Umbrella Sling

ABSTRACT

This invention provides a new and versatile hands-free device for securing an umbrella to a person&#39;s back. The umbrella is secured in a vertical pouch by way of a rod that passes upwards through the umbrella&#39;s handle. The circumference of the pouch holds the umbrella in a folded position, whereas the rod and a sleeve of narrower circumference secure the umbrella when the canopy is extended. The device positions the canopy around and about the user&#39;s head, thereby providing protection from precipitation.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is related to climatic protective wear and equipment.More particularly, it provides a hands-free device for securing anumbrella protectively above a user in need thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Umbrellas and similar equipment for shielding individuals duringinclement weather are in frequent use throughout Canada and elsewhere.However, to use an umbrella when walking, the user needs to hold theumbrella by way of its handle, leaving at most one hand free for otheractivities. This can be a problem when carrying large items or aplurality of packages requiring both hands.

Previous umbrella holding slings, support brackets, straps, bags, andother support devices are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,025,819;5,188,331; 5,660,309; 5,692,582; 6,024,464; 6,053,385 and 6,619,520.However, none of the prior art devices provide the security andadaptability of the invention described here.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In drawings which illustrate by way of example only a preferredembodiment of the invention,

FIG. 1 shows the umbrella securing device with the pouch open and theumbrella detached.

FIG. 2 shows the umbrella securing device with the harness extended andan umbrella zippered into the pouch with the handle upward.

FIG. 3 shows the umbrella securing device with the harness on a user andthe umbrella deployed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a new and versatile hands-free device 1 forsecuring an umbrella 5 to a person's back. The umbrella 5 is secured ina vertical pouch 10 by way of a rod 15 that passes upwards through theumbrella's handle 20. The circumference of the pouch 10 holds theumbrella in a folded position, whereas the rod 15 and an inner sleeve 25of narrower circumference secure the umbrella 5 when the canopy isextended. The device positions the canopy around and about the user'shead, thereby providing protection from the ravages of precipitation.

Referring to the drawings, the device 1 typically has the followingcomponents:

-   -   a. a back plate 30;    -   b. a harness 35 for securing the back plate 30 to a person's        back;    -   c. a vertically oriented pouch 10 attached to the back plate;        and    -   d. a rigid vertically positioned member 15 in the pouch for        securing an umbrella.

The back plate 30 is typically rectangular in shape, or otherwise shapedto conform comfortably to the user's back. It is generally made of asemi-rigid material, such as a foam or bendable plastic, covered withsynthetic weather-resistant material, such as polyester or nylon. Theback plate 30 may have an internal frame (although this is not usuallyrequired), and may have padding to enhance the comfort of the user.

The harness 35 can be any shape and structure that holds the devicesecurely to the user in a comfortable manner. Typically, the harness hastwo adjustable loops that are attached at one end at or near the top ofthe back plate, and at the other end at or near the bottom of the backplate. One loop is configured to pass over the person's shoulder andunder their left arm, and the other lop is configured to pass over theperson's shoulder and under their right arm. Each loop of the harnessmay be padded where it passes over the person's shoulder. To beadaptable to users of different size, the harness or loop size istypically adjustable, for example, by way of a plastic tri-glide buckle.Optionally, the harness may contain other straps and attachments: forexample, an unbuckleable strap that secures one loop to the other acrossthe wearer's front torso.

The vertically oriented pouch 10 is essentially cylindrical, with acloseable zipper running vertically from the top of the pouch to thebottom. When zippered closed, the pouch has an inside circumference thatapproximates the circumference of a closed umbrella 5. The zippertypically runs from the bottom to the top of the pouch, and leaves anopening at the top through which the umbrella may extend and protect theuser. As for the rest of the pliable portions of the device, the pouchmay be made of polyester, nylon, or other hearty and weather-resistantsynthetic fabric.

The rigid member 15 directly secures the umbrella to the device in anupright position by conforming tightly to a handle 20 of an umbrella 5.The canopy of the umbrella when secured extends upwards around and aboutthe user's head. Various configurations of securing means are usable forthis purpose. For example, the rigid member may be a tube or series ofclamps that grasp the handle from the outside. Alternatively, the rigidmember is a cylindrically shaped rod or tube extending from the bottomof the pouch and adapted to pass up the handle of an umbrella that has astraight and hollow handle. In the working example of this inventionshown in the figures, the rigid member is a cylindrically shapeddoweling 5 extending at least 8 inches from the bottom of the pouch. Thedoweling may be made, for example, of wood, rigid plastic, aluminum, orcarbon fiber.

The working example in the figures also has an essentially cylindricalsleeve 25 positioned vertically in the pouch. The sleeve 25 has aninside diameter that approximates the outside diameter of an umbrella'shandle 20, and is open at the top and bottom end. The sleeve ispositioned to receive the handle such that the handle can be securedonto the rigid vertically positioned member.

FIG. 1 shows the umbrella securing device 1 of this invention with thepouch 10 open and the umbrella 5 detached. The securing rod 15 can beseen in the middle, attached to the bottom of the pouch, and runningupwards. It is generally free to accept the handle of the umbrella, butmay be secured part way up by way of one or more strap loops, as shown.The cylindrical sleeve 25 is positioned above the securing rod 15.

FIG. 2 shows the device 1 with the harness 35 extended to go over theshoulders of the user and an umbrella 5 is zippered into the pouch 10with the handle 20 positioned upwards. In this example, the pouch isadapted with a small opening in the bottom, allowing the finial 21 ofthe umbrella to extend downwards from the opening. Note that thecylindrical pouch comfortably encircles the umbrella in the closedposition, including the ribs, the canopy, the hub and runner, and thepole to which the ribs are attached.

FIG. 3 shows the umbrella securing device of this invention with theharness 35 in position on a user and the umbrella 5 deployed.

To carry the umbrella 5 in an open position, the user passes the handle20 of the umbrella 5 through the sleeve 25, and down over the securingrod 15 (passing through the hollow interior of the umbrella's handle) tonear the bottom of the pouch. The zipper is then closed. The securingrod 15 and the sleeve 25 keep the umbrella 5 in position so as toprovide ample visibility, but also protecting the user fromprecipitation or excess sun.

The umbrella securing device 1 of this invention may be designed forcarrying only an umbrella, as shown in the figures. Alternatively, theremay be additional pouches for securing small items, or the entire devicemay be built into a back pack mutatis mutandis, which can be used forcarrying other items as well.

The vendor may wish to sell the umbrella holding device of thisinvention along with an umbrella specifically fitted to the securing rodand sleeve of the device, to save the purchaser from searching for asuitable umbrella from another merchant. The manufacturer or vendor mayalso adapt the device to carry vertical objects that are not umbrellas,as long as they can be configured to the rigid securing means in asimilar fashion.

Various embodiments of the present invention having been thus describedin detail by way of example, it will be apparent to those skilled in theart that variations and modifications may be made without departing fromthe invention. The invention includes all such variations andmodifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

1. A hands-free device for securing to a person's back an umbrellahaving a handle, a pole, and a closeable canopy, the device comprising:a) a back plate; b) a harness for securing the back plate to theperson's back; c) a vertically oriented essentially cylindrical pouchattached to the back plate, comprising a closeable zipper runningvertically from the top of the pouch to a position near the bottom ofthe pouch; d) a rigid vertically positioned member in the pouch forsecuring an umbrella; wherein the pouch has an inside circumference whenclosed that approximates the circumference of the umbrella when closed;wherein the rigid member is adapted to conform tightly to a handle of anumbrella, thereby securing the umbrella in a vertical upright positionwhen the pouch is closed such that the canopy extends around and aboutthe person's head.
 2. The umbrella securing device of claim 1, whereinthe rigid member is a cylindrically shaped rod or tube extending fromthe bottom of the pouch and adapted to pass up the handle of an umbrellathat has a straight and hollow handle.
 3. The umbrella securing deviceof claim 1 wherein the rigid member is a cylindrically shaped woodendoweling extending at least 8 inches from the bottom of the pouch. 4.The umbrella securing device of claim 1, wherein the harness consistsessentially of two adjustable loops that are attached at one end at ornear the top of the back plate, and at the other end at or near thebottom of the back plate, wherein one loop is configured to pass overthe person's shoulder and under their left arm, and the other loop isconfigured to pass over the person's shoulder and under their right arm.5. The umbrella securing device of claim 4, wherein each loop of theharness is padded where it passes over the person's shoulder, and isadjustable in loop size by way of a plastic tri-glide buckle.
 6. Theumbrella securing device of claim 1, further comprising an essentiallycylindrical sleeve positioned vertically in the pouch, wherein thesleeve has an inside diameter that approximates the outside diameter ofan umbrella's handle, wherein the sleeve is open at the top and bottomends, and wherein the sleeve is positioned to receive the handle suchthat the handle can be secured onto the rigid vertically positionedmember.
 7. The umbrella securing device of claim 6, wherein theessentially cylindrical sleeve is positioned above the top of the woodendoweling of claim
 3. 8. The umbrella securing device of claim 1,designed for carrying only an umbrella.
 9. The umbrella securing deviceof claim 1, built into a back pack designed for carrying other items aswell.
 10. A commercial product comprising an umbrella with anessentially straight handle, and the umbrella securing device of claim 1fitted to secure said umbrella within its pouch.
 11. A method for a userto carry an umbrella, comprising securing it in the device of claim 1,and fixing the device to the user's back by way of the harness.
 12. Amethod of protecting a user from precipitation or other particulatematter having an essentially downwards trajectory, comprising carryingan umbrella in an umbrella securing device according to claim 11, suchthat the canopy of the umbrella extends around and about the user'shead.